We are thinking of including either Cannes or St. Tropez during our trip to Cote d'Azur.

Would like pros/cons of both from people who have been there. We are seeing mostly hilltowns, skipping Monaco/Monte Carlo, and the biggest place we will see is Nice.

We are leaning toward St. Tropez as it is smaller. We realize it is a ways from the other areas we are seeing, but would make it a day trip when they have the antique market (another interet of ours).

Comments?

First question, what month? San Tropez is choked with traffic in August -- a good time to avoid, but Cannes won't be much better.
I personally loved St. Tropez. We stayed right on the harbor at the Sube and loved it, balcony to the big yachts and all the activity. Simply spectacular crepes at a stand called "Grand Marnier". We found their market one of the best we'd ever been to, but that was the regular market, not an antique market.

I like Cannes also, but for a bit "wilder" experience go for St. Tropez.

I'm also a fan of St. Tropez. More extravagant than Cannes. I love to sit on a terrace at Place des Lices or at the marina and see the beau monde go by.

Hi, wanderer. I notice on your other post that you are going in May. Are you aware that the Cannes Film Festival is planned for May 12-23? If you are planning to be there during that time, it could have an effect on crowds and prices. I have never been in Cannes during the film festival, but in searching for house rentals for next June in the area, I have noticed that some prices more than doubled for rentals during that period. My tendency would be to steer clear of Cannes at that time, but perhaps others who have been can tell you better how the festival might affect your plans.

Yes, thanks. We do not wish to be there during the film festival, so are going before that - I think our first few days are actually in April, and we leave well before the festival starts.

Will traffic be awful at that time as well?

I think we have settled on St. Tropez. Maybe I'm wrong, but it seems less "glitzy" than Cannes, and Ramautelle and Grassin sound nice to visit near there. We might try to spend a night in the old quarter before venturing on the St. Paul where we will spend the majority of the trip.

We were also thinking of visiting Freujas as my husband likes ruins - anyone been there?

wanderer,
Easter holidays in France will end latest on 26th April. If you go after that date, you should be fine.

Wanderer,

Fréjus is a dandy city for people interested in Roman ruins; the difficulty is in finding a parking place so you can see them! Going early in the day would help, I imagine--we drove round and round for nearly an hour before giving up. But even then we were able to see some things from the car. Avoiding the local market day would be a good idea, as several parking lots were blocked off because of the market.

As for St.-Tropez versus Cannes, it all depends on what you are going to see. Both have beautiful beaches and good restaurants. Looking at the moored yachts in St.-Tropez is a lot of fun--what a life! Just don't go on the week-end or you will spend most of your time in traffic, as there's really only one main road into and out of the town.

I think you said museums didn't interest you, but the small Annonciade art museum in St.-Tropez has a really fine collection.

I happenedto love Cannes..much to do and side trips to MonteCarlo, Nice, village towns...I thought St Tropez was so overrated and totally disappointed...another perspective

i also like St T...cannes is just another medium size city to me...

park up in back of town near the park on the hill...very convenient...just stay to the right as you come into town and wind your way up...
lots of shop and restaurants...alll vey expensive but fun and the boats right up to town is a hoot...may is a great time...the towns around are lovely, make sure you visit....each is good for 1-2 hours...

I would go for St Tropez instead of Cannes if you have to choose one. Although both places are glitzy and expensive, I find St Tropez has much more charm. Much better shopping in St Trop too (more small boutiques rather than all the big names in Cannes). Traffic to St Trop is especially bad on market days (but the market is worth while; some of the best food stalls I have seen, not sure about antiques there).
You probably know this already, but May 1 is a bank holiday.

No, I didn't know about the bank holiday - what is that? Will everything be closed or just the banks?

The 1st of May is a public holiday; it's on a Saturday this year. Shops are normally closed on this day.

And since the May Day holiday is on a Saturday, that means the French will probably "faire le pont," or make a bridge and add the previous Friday onto the holiday--and very likely the following Monday, too. All of that means a lot of places will be closed, but others will be open to take advantage of holiday trade.

I am planning our beach holiday for the first weekend in August (I know, it will be crazy crowded, but that's when we're going...it's our 5-yr anniversary!). I want to be either in St. Tropez or somewhere in that general area, as we will have already been to the areas northeast of there (Cannes,Nice,etc). Anyone been to le Lavandou?

Underhill - sounds like you know this area pretty well. We really need a place with nice beaches (NOT pebbles)-steer me in the right direction? Museums and other stuff aren't really important for this trip - this is a "veg out on the beach" weekend (although a nice market would be good...). Have any specific hotels you can recommend? We try to stay around the 100-150 euro range.

THANKS!!
Mindy

Wesch,

Three spots with nice beaches and not outrageous lodging prices come to mind: Juan-les-Pins, Fréjus (a French-family favorite area), and Le Lavandou. All three would be good places to stay, but Le Lavandou would be my favorite. It's a beautiful area, and the beach is very nice. You could stay in Bormes-les-Mimosas, a charming little town not unlike Carmel (picturesque houses, lots of flowers, good restaurants and shops), which is in the hills just above Le Lavandou, and drive down to the beach in about 10 minutes. There's a very good, large supermarket in the area if you select a place with kitchen facilities or want to pick up supplies for picnics.

We stayed in Bormes at the Domaine du Mirage, which would probably be above your budget but is very nice. In Le Lavandou there are the Petite Bohème and the Rabelais, both around $100/night. In nearby St-Clair are the Roc Hôtel,the Méditeranée, the Belle Vue, and the Bastide. There are quite a few additional hotels in the area, and a number offer kitchen facilities. Because Le Lavandou isn't huge on the tourist circuit, prices haven't climbed sky high--so far.

From Le Lavandou it's about an hour's scenic drive along the coast to St-Tropez.

Thanks so much! As always, Underhill, you are a wealth of information! Truly appreciate it!! I will check out all that you mentioned.

And by the way, I saw your recommendation on another post for "Chateau de Cottun" in Bayeux. The website looked great, so I gave him (fellow American living in France) a call, and we are staying there over the 4th of July weekend! Can't wait!

Thanks again,
Mindy

You're welcome, Mindy. Do let me know how you like the Château de Cottun--the owner seems very, very nice, and he's certainly put up a terrific web site. It's one of the best I've seen.

Mindy,

I too will be at Chateau de Cottun that weekend. I will be arriving with my wife, son, infant daughter, and mother late July 4th. I hope to see you there and that Le Chateau is all that it appears. Thomas sure seems to be a great host.

Does anyone know how easy--or difficult--it is to get from Cassis to St. Tropez at the end of August? Is there just too much traffic? Is it possible to take a boat from Cassis to St. Tropez? Any info would be appreciated. Thanks!